The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas and Dominion Marine Media announced today that the first-ever Norman-Spencer Marine Retail University was a resounding success.
Held in San Antonio on Oct. 21-22, the MRU event attracted 61 total attendees for the two-day event, which featured a networking riverboat cruise and dinner, as well as a full day packed with six educational sessions.
In the United States, the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had increased in September, improved again in October. The Index now stands at 72.2 (1985=100), up from 68.4 in September. The Present Situation Index increased to 56.2 from 48.7. The Expectations Index rose to 82.9 from 81.5 last month.
The monthly Consumer Confidence Survey®, based on a probability-design random sample, is conducted for The Conference Board by Nielsen, a leading global provider of information and analytics around what consumers buy and watch. The cutoff date for the preliminary results was October 18.
Tall Ships America has issued the following statement. The tall ship HMS BOUNTY was lost yesterday (October 30, 2012) in Hurricane Sandy off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Of the 16 persons reportedly aboard at the time, we understand that one individual has perished, and that 14 others were rescued, thanks to the exemplary courage and skill of Coast Guard search and rescue personnel. It appears that the vessel’s master, Robin Walbridge, is missing, and the search continues.
A member of Tall Ships America, HMS BOUNTY was a popular participant in public maritime festivals around North America. Our membership is united in sending our thoughts, prayers and best wishes to the crew and their families,
Yamaha Motor Canada has announced a re-organization of their Sales and Marketing Division.
Jean-Francois (JF) Rioux has been promoted to Assistant National Manager, Outboard and Special Markets. JF will be responsible for managing special markets and outboards.
Dave MacDougall is now Manager, Special Markets. Dave will assume responsibility for developing Special Market Opportunities, Business to Business and OEM partners.
Active Interest Media (AIM) Marine Group held their Inaugural Editor’s Choice Awards on Friday October 26, 2012 during the 53rd Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show where the group honored Madame Annette Bénéteau-Roux with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
AIM Marine Group, publisher of magazines such as PassageMaker, POWER & MOTORYACHT, Yachts International, SAIL and Soundings hosted the event to pay tribute to the marine industry’s best of 2012. While presenting Bénéteau-Roux the Lifetime Achievement Award, Efrem Zimbalist III, chief executive of AIM joked to a crowd of approximately 300 people, “Once in a while a resume takes 45 minutes to read, but even that amount of time wouldn’t approach explanation of the icon’s influence on our industry.”
The Canadian Yachting Association's annual general meeting concluded Saturday with an afternoon vote to change the association's name. An overwhelming vote in support of the motion to change the name of the 74 year old organization to SAIL Canada was recorded, which allowed the national group to begin to align its positioning alongside many other national governing bodies in the sport.
The move was prompted by a renewed effort to begin to collaborate in its efforts across its training, coaching, judging and high performance disciplines allowing it to better brand, build and grow the sport's awareness nationally in Canada.
Campion Marine, Canada's largest fiberglass boat builder, has launched their new Chase 550 bow rider powered by the world's first 180 horsepower electric outboard engine designed by ReGen Nautic USA Inc.
At 45 kilos, the engine weighs about a quarter of the traditional gas-powered outboard. The engine is extremely quiet. At top speed, the loudest noise is the sound of waves splashing on the boat. The first boat Campion built using this new technology will be going to Pro Nautic, a Campion dealer in Switzerland.
The Boating Ontario Conference is excited to announce that they will help you connect with existing and prospective customers and operate your business more efficiently by offering a Technology Expo that will highlight new technology and applications. Learn more about the Conference at conference.boatingontario.ca
Every business needs technology, for staying in contact with customers, co-workers and suppliers, daily business operations, maintaining financial records and marketing.
4th Annual Class Includes Ken MacStephen, Tony Mollica and the Antique Boat Museum
The 2012 inductees into the Hagerty Classic Marine Hall of Fame were announced at the ACBS International Meeting in Table Rock Lake, Mo. Founded in 2009, the Hall of Fame pays tribute to individuals and organizations that have significantly contributed to the preservation and awareness of the classic boating lifestyle. This year’s inductees include author Tony Mollica, ACBS Toronto co-founder Ken MacStephen and the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, N.Y.
From a total of 115 products entered into this year’s prestigious DAME Design Award METS competition, 39 have now been nominated to go forward for final judging by the DAME Jury who will eventually choose a maximum of seven Category Winners and one Overall Winner.
The DAME Design Award competition is held every year in conjunction with METS incorporating the SuperYacht Pavilion and this year it received entries from all around the world, with the successful nominations coming from 13 nations.
The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, announced that 44 industry associations will receive funding from the Government of Canada to expand international business activities, bring in new investment and attract top talent.
“Our government is committed to growing our economy and creating good, new, high-value jobs for hard-working Canadians,” said Minister Fast. “That is why we are helping our world-class industries expand and succeed abroad as a key part of our plan to open new markets around the world for our exporters. The funding we are providing today will help with these efforts.”
The media is calling it "Frankenstorm" and it's not over yet, but the 2012 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show largely escaped the effects of Hurricane Sandy as it headed north. The exhibitors breathed a collective sigh of relief.
It started out badly. After heavy rains virtually washed out the last 3 days of the 2011 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the 2012 show opened with 35 mph winds, overcast skies and frequent cloud bursts.
From Tuesday, December 4, 2012 through to Friday, December 7, 2012, starting at 8:30 AM each day, the NSBA will hosts an ABYC Marine Systems Certification course in Halifax.
The course will be held at the Nova Scotia Boatbuilders Association, in Halifax.
This four day systems course will draw key information from 21 different ABYC Standards as they apply to boat component selection and installation.
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) announced a series of staff promotions at the executive level to coincide with its growing responsibilities in advocating for and promoting the strength of marine manufacturing, the sales and service networks of its members, and the boating lifestyle. Craig Boskey and Carl Blackwell were promoted to Senior Vice President. John McKnight, Dave Geoffroy and Ellen Hopkins were named Vice Presidents.
“NMMA has a talented group of staff dedicated to the interests and success of our members,” said Thom Dammrich, NMMA president.
Chris-Craft has introduced their new Corsair 32 at the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show.
The Corsair 32 is the newest member of the Corsair family the sister ship to the new Launch 32; which made its debut to rave reviews at the 2012 Miami International Boat Show earlier this year.
Steve Heese, Chris-Craft President, said: “The Corsair line carries the core DNA of the legendary Chris-Craft brand. We built her to fill a need in our closed-deck series of cruisers.”
Over the past several years, Furuno has been hard at work making an Autopilot that sets the bar for how an Autopilot should operate and steer a boat. They started with self-learning and adaptive software that taught itself more about your boat each time you took it out. Then they created unique FishHunter modes to aid fisherman and special Wind modes for sailors. Now they’ve taken customer feedback to create software that allows the NavPilot 700 to work without the use of a physical rudder feedback.
Furuno's all-new Fantum Feedback NavPilot software clears the path to a simplified installation, while also delivering enhanced steering control.
The BC Marine Trades Association (BCMTA) has finalized an exceptional and diverse lineup of speakers and topics for the upcoming BC Marine Industry Conference. Details on schedule, speakers and each presentation are available at bcmta.com. A variety of engaging sessions have been designed to support the conference theme – Business and Personal Growth – and are ideal for business owners, employees and anyone else involved in the recreational marine industry who is looking to achieve business growth, increased sales or personal success.
GE Capital is co-sponsoring the keynote address by renowned business coach and CEO mentor, Cameron Herold, who will share tips on growing a business from ‘Zero to Good.’
The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and the Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, announced on Friday October 19th, the introduction of amendments to the Navigable Waters Protection Act. The Act allows for the building of bridges and other works that might interfere with navigation.
From the day it was enacted in 1882, the intent of the Navigable Waters Protection Act has been the safe and efficient movement of marine traffic.
Captain Eric Hill of Royal Canadian Air Force Maritime Helicopter Tactics will be providing an informative and possibly life-saving presentation on Safety at Sea at the Port Credit Yacht Club, Monday, November 19, 2012 at 7PM. It is open to the general public, but space is limited.
Captain Eric Hill is a yacht training and safety consultant. He is the offshore training skipper for the Royal Canadian Navy and holds a commercial endorsement for sailing vessels to 200 gt and is a qualified RYA/CYA radar, diesel, and commercial Yachtmaster instructor.
The BoatUS Foundation has sent out a reminder that it's hard being a boater in the fall. Most of your friends on the water are gone, the days shorter, the waters colder. However, the lack of crowds or better wind in the sails is still appealing to many boaters, anglers and sailors, but safety must be stepped up, says the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. What makes the risk go up and what can you do? Here's five ways you can easily get in trouble this time of the year.
Sunshine isn't your friend: Don't let sunny days deceive you – while it may be T-shirt weather in the morning at the launch ramp or dock, weather can change quickly this time of year. Bring extra clothing to dress in layers and always bring foul weather gear.